POKHARA: Foreign relations experts have suggested the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to prioritise the collective economic development and resolution of the common problems in the region.

They have emphasised that the collective development of the countries of the region should be the primary agenda of SAARC for the overall development of the region since many of the SAARC member countries have not been able to lift themselves up from the status of least developed countries, although India was making strides in economic development.

Former ambassador Tanka Karki said that although India is rising in the SAARC in terms of economic development, the rest of the countries are still least developed and there is urgent need of improving their economic status on a collective basis.

"The 21st century is dubbed the age of Asia's resurgence and the need of the day is to make collective efforts for the overall development of the region through stronger relations among the member states," Karki suggested.

"Priority should be given in SAARC to reducing the impact of climate change which has been escalating in the recent days," Karki said.

Foreign affairs expert Hiranya Lal Shrestha believes that the SAARC member countries could move ahead on the path of economic prosperity if they are able utilise each others' resources.

"SAARC has so far brought the countries of the South Asia region closer and concerted effort of all is required for achieving economic prosperity and development," he said.

Referring to the problem of global warming, he suggested SAARC to take the issue seriously and work towards minimising its impact.

Shrestha viewed that SAARC should prioritise issues including the conservation of forests to miniminise increasing global warming.

He said that concerns of Maldives at the risk of being sunk due to the rising sea level with the rapid melting of snow in the Himalayas and other challenges posed by global warming should also be taken into mind.

Likewise, foreign affairs expert Suresh Raj Chalise said that Nepal as current chairman of SAARC should play an effective role for the economic development of the region.

He pointed out the need for collective efforts among SAARC nations to minimise the impact of global warming like food insecurity as it is not possible to fight alone for the same cause.

He also said that Asian countries are at high-risk of earthquakes and minimising such risks should be prioritised.

Similarly, joint secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mani Prasad Bhattarai said that issues on the overall development of the region would be discussed in the ongoing SAARC Council of Ministers' meeting in Pokhara.